WEDDING MUSIC

Going in to the church any church organist will suggest the traditional and rather stately 'Bridal March' from Wagner's Lohengrin and, as with Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary' it's as good as anything for getting the congregation 'in the mood'. But you might like Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba', used in the film four Weddings and a Funeral for something a little faster.

Signing of the register

This can take ten minutes, so you will need a musical impression. It is hard to beat a good soprano singing an Ave Maria. Gounod's heavily romanticised, but very beautiful arrangement of a Bach solo keyboard work is probably the most popular, but Catholic Weddings still tend to opt for the more understated serenity of the Schubert. If you have a really good soprano or chorister you might like to emulate Royal weddings with Mozart's motet Exsultate, jubilate', 15 minutes of celebratory vocal fireworks for a high voice with a famous closing Alleluia. perhaps the most sublimely beautiful of all vocal wedding favourites, Mozart's 'Laudate Dominium, from his Solemn Vespers has a soprano or boy treble solo soaring gloriously above a choir. All of these works can be accompanied by, or arranged for, organ piano. Our personal choice would be Britten's exquisite arrangements for two-voices and piano of Purcell's 'Sound of the Trumpet' lasting just three minutes. or a tenot signing Franck's 'Panis Angelicus'. You could combine this with Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' or something non-choral, anything by Bach; perhaps of a solo cello suite, would be the ticket.

Going out of the church

The most famous piece of music associated wirh weddings is, that favourite processional, the 'Wedding March'from Mendelssohns' Midsummer Night's Dream. Prince Charles chose the fourth of Elgar's magnificent 'Pomp and Circumstance' Marches. But if that is too grand, Widows 'Toccata' is a wonderful way to leave a euphoric congregation. For more information: Try one of the popular monthly classical music magazines like the excellent Classic CD magazine published by Future Publishing, available at all good newsagents.

THEMED WEDDINGS

It is now increasingly quite common for couples to give their wedding day a theme. This gives them the opportunity to make their wedding a little different, and also has the advantage of making it easier to coordinate the look and style. The theme itself may derive from your profession, for example a military wedding, or, in some cases, from a shared hobby. Themes can be as subtle or as prominent in their influence as you like, from patterned stationery to hints of special colour in your wedding dress and decorations, right through to major theming which is coordinated throughout all aspects of the day.

PAYING FOR YOUR WEDDING

There are no hard and fast rules nowadays about paying the bills. More couples are paying for their own weddings. with some help from their parents.

It is nevertheless important to determine the total amount you want to spend early on in your planning: work out a budget to include the costs of the wedding, reception, and honeymoon. This will help you to decide on the right reception venue, and how many guests to invite.

Careful planning and sensible budgeting will help you relax and enjoy the day you don't need to go beyond what you can afford. Whatever your budget, you can stage a wedding to suit, and make it memorable.

Before you pay for it, or book, anything make a personal inspection of the venue to find our exactly what you are paying for.

STATIONERY

Most large high street stationers now offer a range of personalised wedding stationery. Alternatively there are numerous independent companies offering a more personal and specialised service.

You are at liberty to request samples or brochures from potential suppliers. and, if you have a theme in mind, try asking them if they already have something in that style.

A complete set of stationery can include any or all of the following, and more besides: · Invitations · Reply cards · Order of service bookletts · Hymn book markers · place cards · Thank you cards · Gift tags ·Personalised letterheads · Menus · Match books.

It is worth hunting around for ideas, so consider a number of options before you decide. A lot of smaller companies operate a mail order service which will give you plenty to choosh from.